A pilot study exploring the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine on Korean obese women with metabolic syndrome risk factors: Double blinded, randomized, multicenter, placebo controlled study protocol clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases one's risk for heart disease and other conditions. The prevalence of obesity and associated diseases have steadily increased among Korean adults. The effect of the herbal medicines Daesiho-tang (DSHT) and Chowiseungcheng-tang (CST) on obesity have been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Daesiho-tang and Chowiseungcheng-tang on obese Korean women with high risk for metabolic syndrome. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center, 3-arm, parallel group clinical trial. A total of 120 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned to the Daesiho-tang group, the Chowiseungcheng-tang group, or the placebo group in a 1:1:1 ratio using an internet-based randomization system at visit 2. Each group will be administered DSHT, CST, or placebo 3 times per day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is to evaluate the changes in mean body weight of participants in the DSHT and CST groups and compare with those in the placebo group, and determine their statistical significance, if any, after 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes are the following: changes in body fat percentage and body fat mass, changes in waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index, changes in serum lipids, fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, and C-reactive proteins (CRP) levels between visit 1 and visit 5 measurements. Changes in visceral fat volume determined through abdominal computed tomography, patient-reported health outcomes surveys—the Korean version of the Obesity-related Quality of Life and the Korean version of Eating Attitudes Test. DISCUSSION: This study will provide research methodologies for evaluating the efficacy and safety of Daesiho-tang and Chowiseungcheng-tang on obese Korean women with high risk for metabolic syndrome. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02651454. Registered on 11 January 2016. Protocol version: The final approved version of the trial protocol is V1.3.(2017.11.10).